RIYADH- The upcoming Saudi Arabia’s national carrier Riyadh Air (RX) has signed a five-year strategic partnership with SATS Saudi Arabia Company, a subsidiary of SATS Ltd, to manage cargo handling at key airports across the country.
The agreement covers Riyadh Air’s primary hub at King Khalid International Airport (RUH), along with support operations at King Fahd International Airport (DMM) in Dammam and King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) in Jeddah.
The deal aims to strengthen Riyadh’s role as a leading cargo hub, in line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 target of handling 4.5 million tons of air cargo annually.
Photo: SATSRiyadh Air Cargo Ops
This partnership gives Riyadh Air immediate access to SATS Saudi Arabia’s 60,000-square-metre airfreight terminal at RUH, which features advanced facilities for pharmaceuticals, e-commerce, live animals, valuables, and dangerous goods.
By integrating SATS’ hub management expertise, Riyadh Air will benefit from centralised cargo and security control centres for real-time operational oversight, ensuring shipments move efficiently across its growing international network.
Through SATS’ global presence of more than 225 stations, supported by over 250 airline partners and freight forwarders, Riyadh Air gains direct connectivity to major trade lanes worldwide.
This creates an advantage for the airline as it works toward connecting over 100 destinations globally by 2030, while enhancing its competitiveness in both regional and international cargo markets.
Building a Technology-Driven Cargo Hub
The collaboration also focuses on deploying SATS’ proprietary COSYS+ Next Generation Cargo Management System. This system enables real-time tracking, data-driven decision-making, and integration of automated truck dock management to streamline cargo flows.
Combined with advanced digital cargo handling tools, these systems will allow Riyadh Air to scale operations quickly while maintaining efficiency and reliability.
The RUH cargo facility’s scalable infrastructure ensures the hub can expand alongside Riyadh Air’s long-term growth, supporting new cargo products and value-added services as demand increases.
By embedding technology into its cargo operations from day one, Riyadh Air positions itself to deliver seamless logistics solutions to shippers and freight forwarders.
Photo: Riyadh AirStrategic Alignment with Vision 2030
This agreement directly contributes to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy of transforming the Kingdom into a global logistics hub.
By leveraging SATS’ international experience in hub management and cargo digitisation, Riyadh Air strengthens its capacity to handle growing volumes of air freight while meeting international standards of safety and efficiency.
Executives from both companies have highlighted the importance of this milestone. Adam Boukadida, Chief Financial Officer at Riyadh Air, noted that the partnership provides a solid foundation for delivering world-class cargo services from day one.
Bob Chi, CEO of Gateway Services Asia Pacific at SATS Ltd, emphasised that this collaboration aligns Riyadh Air’s ambition to connect more than 100 destinations by 2030 with SATS’ commitment to deliver advanced cargo solutions globally.
Photo: HavasStrengthening SATS’ Footprint in the Middle East
For SATS, this partnership reinforces its growing role in the Middle East’s fast-expanding air cargo sector.
By working closely with Riyadh Air, SATS Saudi Arabia establishes itself as a trusted enabler for airlines seeking efficient and reliable logistics support across the region.
The cooperation between Riyadh Air and SATS not only enhances Saudi Arabia’s cargo infrastructure but also signals a broader shift in regional logistics, where advanced technology, strong global networks, and strategic partnerships will define competitiveness in the years ahead.
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